What's Next For Business Development In Ellisville?

A spokesman for White Castle confirmed Tuesday that the company still does have plans to develop the former Long John Silver restaurant property located on Manchester Road, but that it will likely not happen until 2014.

But what happens to another vacant storefront on the same property--the former Best Buy, could play a much bigger role in helping set a course for future development in the city of Ellisville.

City Councilwoman Cindy Pool, for one, has suggested that if the city can lure a big box developer to that site or to the property across the street, it could give more life to the prospect of developing the vacant car lots sitting along Manchester Road at Kiefer Creek into the city-center complex some have envisioned.

A standalone AT&T retail store is planned for part of that site, the former McDonald's restaurant. Several people commenting on past Patch stories have suggested that the area be built up to expand the city's residential population.

But the proverbial elephant in the room when it comes to development may still be Walmart.

The city council stands poised to act later this month after a hearing to formally revoke the conditional use permit for the project even after Walmart backed out of the plan.  A firm has been retained by someone interested in getting public feedback about the Walmart project, although it isn't clear who is behind it and how they would use the result to move forward. A spokeswoman told Patch Tuesday afternoon that it was not involved in the poll nor was it aware of it.

Councilman Mick Cahill, an outspoken opponent of using tax increment financing (TIF) for Walmart, suggested the city of Ellisville can now have a welcome mat out for all businesses.

"We want developers here, we just want them on an even fair playing ground. If they're not asking for TIF I don't know why they wouldn't want to come to our town."

Dr. Robert Cropf, professor of political science at Saint Louis University told West Newsmagazine the city should look at where it is and what it wants moving forward.

"Why should someone bring their business to Ellisville? They have to be able to come up with an answer to that question that sets them apart from municipality A, B and C all down the line," he told the publication. "They have to engage in that deep search into why they want more business, what they hope to achieve and how they can position themselves to accomplish that.”